The McShay Show — Week 6 Reactions

Penn State's Problem, Miami's Dominance, Arch's Letdown

The Ringer | October 5, 2025 | Host: Todd McShay

Episode Overview

This episode of The McShay Show, hosted by long-time NFL Draft and college football analyst Todd McShay (with frequent co-host Steve), delivers in-depth reactions to a dramatic week of college football. Focusing on Penn State’s unexpected collapse, Miami’s statement win, Alabama’s resurgence, and Texas’ confusing struggles—with a spotlight on Arch Manning—the show unpacks the biggest surprises and disappointments, analyzes top draft prospects, and dissects coaching and leadership at the highest levels. The crew also shares a handful of memorable game moments, rising prospects, and rapid-fire thoughts on AP Top 12 rankings.

Highlights, Key Discussions, and Analysis

1. Best (and Funniest) Moments from Saturday [05:28–15:42]

- Top Play: Taweed Walker’s Truck Stick

• Cincinnati RB Taweed Walker’s physical run against Iowa State earns “Best of the Best,” with McShay admiring his 5’8” 220-lb power (“Come on, man... That's the best of the best, by the way.” [06:00–06:07]).
• Quick family plug: Todd’s brother-in-law and niece featured on the Cincy field celebrating a FanDuel Pick of the Week [06:12–07:37].

- Vanderbilt QB Pavia’s Premature Celebration

• Pre-game, Pavia practiced the victory formation and tossing the ball up for a solo celebration—"In Tuscaloosa, college life is full of regrets. That’s one of them.” [08:19–09:37]

- Michael Trigg’s Breakout at Baylor

• McShay lauds Baylor’s TE Michael Trigg for “highlight-reel” grabs against Kansas State, noting his rising draft stock:
  “He is an athletic dude... ten and three-quarters inch hands. He’s one of the guys bolstering that tight end group.” [10:30–11:08]

- Clemson-UNC: A Student’s Epic Disappointment

• Viral UNC student quote post-game: "That's one of the saddest feelings I've had in university so far. And I've failed midterms before, so that's saying something." [13:41–13:43]

- Jerry Neuheisel & Penn State’s Defensive Collapse

• Observation: “He looks like a surfer they ripped off of Manhattan Beach... he is absolutely shredding this really good Penn State defense with an offense that has been really bad.” [14:23–14:52]

2. Penn State's Collapse: Leadership, Accountability, and Flaws [15:46–34:15]

- Game Review & Defensive Breakdown

• Penn State’s defense, stalwart all season, is run over by a previously hapless UCLA offense (“This UCLA team couldn't score against anyone and they're putting up 42 on the Nittany Lions today.” [16:08–17:29]).
• Steve: “Penn State didn't lose today because of Drew Aller. Penn State lost today because of their defense. And that's... bad to give up 42 points.”

- Todd’s "Generational" Take: Leadership Failings

• McShay hammers head coach James Franklin’s excuses post-game—injuries, travel, emotional letdown.
  • “So to me, James Franklin is much more concerned about walking out there and starting with. Didn't recover emotionally. Players were injured in that game and the travel and giving all the excuses and then circling back to: But I take responsibility. It's just a word salad, man.” [26:03–27:06]
  • Cites the difference between real leaders (Saban, Urban, etc.) and how Franklin handled it: "There's nothing worse than when the head coach goes out and subtly blames it on you, the players, and the circumstances...and then it's like, but it's my responsibility." [27:09–27:30]
• Steve: “Never really adjusted defensively during the game...I mean, there was a systematic failure on defense today for Penn State.” [27:32–28:01]

- What’s Next for Penn State?

• Would you move on from Franklin midseason? Both agree: if you know, do it now.
• McShay distills the root problem: "Leadership. Poor leadership eventually surfaces. And I think today was the first time we saw poor leadership surface." [33:39–34:01]

3. Miami’s Statement Win: Physicality, Defensive Dominance, and Offensive Growth [34:15–49:00]

- First Impressions & Defensive Adjustments

• Miami concedes an early field goal after some clever play design by UCF, but quickly adjusts—“They calm down defensively, and when they calm down, they read their keys. And when they read their keys, they play fast and vicious.” [36:17–37:01]
• Steve: loves Miami DC Corey Heatherman’s intensity and paranoia: “He covers his mouth whenever he makes a call...his energy on the sideline is nuts.” [37:01–37:19]

- Player Development: Jacoby Thomas and Reuben Bain

• Emerging transfer Jacoby Thomas compared to LSU’s Harold Perkins—"He's a dominant factor.”
• McShay highlights Miami’s front—especially Reuben Bain’s power and Akeem Mezador’s inside/outside versatility. Potentially the best DE tandem nationally per Herbstreit. [39:14–40:30]
• Steve on Mezador: “I don’t think Mess thinks he’s DE2...I think he thinks, and he plays like, ‘I’m going to compete just as hard as he is.’”

- Offense: Beck’s Deep Ball and Malachi Tony

• After doubts about Miami’s downfield passing, Beck connects on a 44-yard flea flicker and several other big throws: “That's the one thing that I have seen that's missing...this Miami offense in general was missing the deep ball. So to see him come out and make that throw, I was like, this is a good sign.”
• Malachi Tony “just different”—seven catches, 107 yards, 2 TDs (plus a third called back):
  "Everything about his game other than his size is impressive...he is just different.” [47:01–47:32]

4. Alabama Survives Vanderbilt: A Step Back Toward Glory? [52:04–71:36]

- Improvements on Both Sides

• Steve: “That was Alabama football...we’re going to run it down your throat...the attitude of that was, okay, now it feels a little bit like Alabama's back.”
• Ty Simpson, Jeremy Bernard, and Isaiah Horton all singled out as part of a resurgent passing attack and a potent, time-controlling run game (“36 minutes [of possession], eight more first downs, 69 offensive plays—almost flipped from a year ago.” [56:25–56:44])

- Coaching & Quarterback Play

• McShay: "...the run game is the most important supporting actor...Matt Damon's nothing in Good Will Hunting without Ben Affleck.” [55:43]
• On Ty Simpson: “The things that he can improve upon...they’re areas in which he can improve. It’s not out of his physical or mental capacity.”

- Defensive Adjustments

• Major improvement in discipline and misdirection handling; shut Vanderbilt out in second half ("To watch them all of a sudden settle in and to show discipline and... they started playing faster because they got confident.") [66:45–67:44]
• Special praise for young defensive players, especially Yonze Pierre: "Yanze Pierre is a problem." [67:44–68:25]
• Steve: “If you're a Bama fan, this is...even more encouraging than beating Georgia. That game’s always a war. This was highly encouraging.” [70:04–71:36]

5. Texas Falls to Florida: The Arch Manning Dilemma, Offensive Line Struggles [73:05–84:15]

- Surprise Start, but Confusing Finish

• Florida’s offense shocks early; Arch Manning flashes brilliance on “reset his feet and threw to Wingo for the touchdown”—his best play of the year. [75:23–75:44]
• But pivotal mistakes (missed throws, blocked punt safety) and a “backbreaker” long TD run ultimately doom Texas. [76:28–77:07]

- The Texas Problem is Multidimensional

• McShay: “Three elements to why Texas lost: Arch not there yet; offensive line sucked; and the run game—where was it? Only two running backs played, 9 carries for 11 yards.” [80:54–81:35]
• Steve: “They lost a lot in the draft and it just hasn't come together [up front]. I almost feel like we’re not being critical enough of that group because we don’t want to sound like we’re being easy on Arch.” [81:45–82:46]
• Encouragement: “I still think Arch has a very high ceiling...he’s played, it’s been disappointing and a lot concerning so far.”

- Florida’s Silver Linings

• Dallas Wilson becomes the first Florida WR in 30 years to debut with 100+ yards and 2 TDs: “He’s a grown-ass man...” [86:41–87:16]
• Commitment to RB Jaden Baugh (27 carries) gives offense shape and balance; slot WR Vernell Brown III also praised.
• DJ Lagway showing improvement with weapons now emerging: “It keeps getting a little bit better.”

6. Quick-Hit Breakdowns & Rapid-Fire Reactions [104:32–112:57]

- Cincinnati-Iowa State: Sleepers & Home-field Advantage

• Segment salutes Cincinnati’s revamped Nippert Stadium and rising prospects (QB Brandon Sorsby, TE Joe Royer, DL Dante Corleone, LB Jake Galde).
• Sorsby has been efficient since the Nebraska game: "He’s an interesting player, man, because you look at the mobility, the arm strength, the kind of year he’s having—Cincinnati’s pretty good.” [103:01–104:14]

- Mississippi State-Texas A&M: Concerns Despite Record

• McShay isn’t “all in” on A&M due to penalties (ranked 125th) and QB Marcel Reed’s indecisiveness: "There’s a habit that has to be broken...Just rip it." [106:44–108:00]
• Steve: “They might be the most dangerous team in America.”

- Ohio State, Michigan, and Others

• Ohio State: Carnell Tate’s breakout (8 catches, 179 yards, 1 TD).
• Michigan: True freshman Andrew Marshall and transfer Donovan McCauley showing promise as WRs.

7. AP Top 12 Quick Analysis and Closing [112:28–117:00]

- McShay’s Top 10:

1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Miami
4. Ole Miss
5. Oklahoma
6. Texas A&M
7. Alabama
8. Indiana
9. Texas Tech
10. Georgia

• Steve: “I don't know at this point how you don't have Miami one, Ohio State two, Oregon three. I think Ohio State might be the best team in the country...Miami's resume is good enough to put them one now.” [115:19–115:34]
• LSU and Tennessee in the mix for 11/12; “Michigan and Notre Dame are coming.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Leadership. Poor leadership eventually surfaces. And I think today was the first time we saw poor leadership surface." — Todd McShay on Penn State (33:39)
• "That's one of the saddest feelings I've had in university so far. And I've failed midterms before, so that's saying something." — UNC student (13:41)
• "He is an athletic dude...ten and three-quarters inch hands. He's one of the guys bolstering that tight end group." — On Michael Trigg, Baylor TE (10:30)
• "There's nothing worse than when the head coach goes out and subtly blames it on you, the players and...then circles back to: But it's my responsibility." — McShay on Franklin (27:09)
• "Matt Damon's nothing in Good Will Hunting without Ben Affleck." — McShay, comparing Alabama’s run game to supporting actors (55:43)
• "He is a grown-ass man." — On Florida WR Dallas Wilson (87:10)
• "If you're a Bama fan, this is...even more encouraging than beating Georgia." — McShay (70:04)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Best Moments Clip Review: 05:28–15:42
• Penn State/UCLA Fallout: 15:46–34:15
• Miami-Florida State Deep Dive: 34:15–49:00
• Alabama-Vanderbilt Analysis: 52:04–71:36
• Texas-Florida/Arch Manning Debate: 73:05–84:15
• Rapid-Fire & Cincinnati Home Field: 94:38–104:32
• AP Top 12 & Rankings Talk: 112:28–117:00

Final Thoughts

This episode stands out for its unfiltered, inside-football candor—especially in dissecting Penn State and James Franklin’s flaws, Miami’s ascendant defense, the ongoing Arch Manning saga, and how quickly the college football landscape can shift. McShay’s relentless focus on tape, preparation, and leadership—plus the show’s group-chat chaos—delivers a must-listen for diehards and casual fans alike.

“If you’re not real, you’re not going to get the real results in the long term. The real ones get the real results over time.” — Todd McShay (29:45)

[End of Episode Summary]